This invention relates to methods for forming a polymer, including continuously depositing a polymer extrudate that is above its glass transition temperature onto a lower molding surface of a first mold in a manner that reduces shear stress in the polymer extrudate, heating the lower molding surface to maintain the polymer extrudate above the glass transition temperature, applying an upper molding surface of a second mold to at least the exposed upper surface of the polymer, allowing the polymer to transition to below the glass transition temperature while within or between the upper and lower molding surfaces, and providing heat sinks spaced relative to each other through the pressure forming zone, wherein a heat sink more advanced through the pressure forming zone is controlled to a lower temperature to progressively reduce the temperature of the polymer as it advances through the pressure forming zone.

An optical film includes a plurality of alternating first and second polymeric layers disposed on a first protective layer. Each of the first and second polymeric layers has an average thickness less than about 500 nm and the first protective layer has an average thickness greater than about 750 nm. An olefin layer can be disposed on the first protective layer opposite the plurality of alternating first and second polymeric layers. The olefin layer includes cyclic olefin copolymer, cyclic olefin polymer, or a blend thereof. The olefin layer can have an unstructured major surface opposite the first protective layer. A bonding layer is disposed between, and bonds together, the olefin layer and the first protective layer. The optical film is integrally formed.

Systems for forming composite parts, methods of forming composite parts, and methods of precisely performing a plurality of operations on a composite part. The systems include a layup mandrel that includes a mandrel body and a plurality of regions of isotropic surface finish. The methods of forming the composite part include positioning a plurality of plies of composite material on a layup mandrel, conforming the plurality of plies of composite material to a layup surface shape of the layup mandrel, and curing the plurality of plies of composite material. The methods of precisely performing the plurality of operations on a composite part include detecting a corresponding imprinted feature of a plurality of imprinted features, aligning an operating assembly of an end effector relative to the corresponding imprinted feature, and performing a corresponding operation of the plurality of operations on the composite part.

A fiber-reinforced plastic substrate is described in which a plurality of resins having different properties are firmly compounded and that includes components [A], [B], and [C]: [A] reinforcing fibers; [B] thermoplastic resin (b); and [C] thermoplastic resin (c),
wherein the component [A] is arranged in one direction, in the fiber-reinforced plastic substrate, a resin area including the component [B] and a resin area including the component [C] are present, the resin area including the component [B] is present on a surface of one side of the fiber-reinforced plastic substrate, and a distance Ra.sub.(bc) between Hansen solubility parameters of the component [B] and the component [C] satisfies formula (1):
Ra.sub.(bc)={4(DBDC).sup.2+(PBPC).sup.2+(HBHC).sup.2}.sup.1/28
wherein Ra.sub.(bc), DB, DC, PB, PC, HB and HC are as defined.

A breath actuated metered dose inhaler may comprise a canister fire system configured to fire a medicament containing canister in response to patient inhalation. The canister fire system may comprise a pneumatic force holding unit and having a rest configuration in which a metering valve of the canister is in a refill configuration; a prepared configuration in which a canister actuation force is retained by the pneumatic force holding unit and the canister fire system is actuatable by patient inhalation induced airflow; and a fire configuration in which the metering valve is in a dose delivery position. When in the prepared configuration, the force retained by the pneumatic force holding unit may be reduced by less than about 6% over a period of 5 minutes, preferably less than about 3% over a period of 5 minutes.

A film composition including acid copolymer in a range of 1 to 10%, metallocene Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) in a range of 5 to 15%, low density polyethylene (LDPE) in a range of 5 to 10%, anti-block masterbatch in the range of 0.5 to 1%, high density polyethylene (HDPE) in a range of 20 to 50%, plastomer in a range of 5 to 30% and slip additive in a range of 0.5 to 1%. Also disclosed is a film made from the film composition and to a laminate made from the film.

There is provided a technique to strongly integrate a galvanized steel sheet and a resin molded article. A hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is immersed in an aqueous solution for aluminum degreasing to form a specific roughness on the surface. The surface is covered with convex protrusions having a diameter of about 100 nm, and a chromate treatment layer appears in the surface. A resin composition comprising 70 to 97 wt % of polyphenylene sulfide and 3 to 30 wt % of a polyolefin resin is injected onto the surface. The resin composition penetrates into ultra-fine irregularities and is cured in that state, and thereby a composite in which the galvanized steel sheet and the resin molded article are strongly integrated can be obtained. The shear rupture strength of the composite is extremely high.

A mold for forming an element molded from a particle foam, including for example expanded polypropylene foam, includes at least one visible exterior surface defined by the particle foam. The visible exterior surface is textured having a roughness depth of less than or equal to 1.00 mm and a plurality of vent interfaces each having a maximum width of less than or equal to 0.4 mm. Methods of molding the element, together with a mold and a method of making the mold, are also provided.

In some examples, a method includes depositing a mixture including a resin and an additive powder via a print head of a three-dimensional printing system to form a carbon fiber preform including a plurality of individual carbon fiber layers, wherein each individual layer of the plurality of individual carbon fiber layers includes a plurality of carbon fibers and the mixture of the resin and the additive powder.

An article having a textured surface and a method for manufacturing such an article is provided. The article comprises a polymeric layer coated on at least a portion of the article, a plurality of cavities formed in the polymeric layer, wherein each cavity in the plurality of cavities have a size between about 50 microns to about 2000 microns, and wherein a majority of the plurality of cavities have encircling perimeter ridges, and a plurality of channels formed in the polymeric layer between the encircling perimeter ridges.